keilholtz



P. 0. KEILHOLTZ.

REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED ma. ll. I915.

1 ,321,054. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- P. 0. KEiLHOLTZ.

REGULATOR.

APPLICATION min MAR. 11.1916.

1 ,32 1,054, Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. 0. KEILHOLTZ.

REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.II.19I6- 1,321,054. Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

may

' sure has p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PIERRE O. K-EIIJHOLTZ, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

' nnconaron.

1,321,054. Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted N 4, 1919 Application fled March 11,1919. Serial no. seam.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Pnumn O. KEILHOLTZ, a citizen of the United States of America residing in the city of Baltimore, State 0 Maryland, have invented certain new an useful Improvements in Regulators, of which the ollowin is a. speci cation.

This invention ates to an improvement on or more roperly a variation of the method descri in m tates ent No. 1,160,51i,-da November 16, 1915, entitled Method f sure intended to increase its field of eilicient application. patented lized in connection with an ordinary boiler pressure regulator which may be phragm actuated type, the steam pressure controlled member wh the particular t pe of commercial regulator shown is a diap m, being communicated to a valve determini the flow of a fluid under pressure to a cylinder or equivalent source, the p'stonin which is down depending upon the ressure on t e diaphragm member or the l e which interprets the pressure to be regulated. The piston in turn operates acontroller conn to a motor or battery of motors driving the blowers, deter-mi the sugnply of air or air and fuel to the urnace or 1t should be that this is primarily a forced understood draft s stem. L

In this way the draft. is changed correctively in response to variations of steam pressure tending to keep this pressure at a predetermined normal. The regulator referred to is only one of various commerci types, and the particular type is not essential to the Keilholtz invention of the patent or of this application. Such regulators are defective in that the phase of operation, 11.4., the tendency of 'nfiuence exerted isnot an until the steam presrough normal, that is, if ress re is being built up, the

the steam the fire is increased until it tion immediately becomes necessa This causes and the Kei vention of atent No. 1,160,514 prevents racing by utilizing the variation f dra pressure to stop the regulating when at inholtz indri'ven up or tervals as the pressure builds up or drops 05' in response to the action of the diaphragm regu so that no further variation 0 blower speed or draft results unless the pressure on the diaphragm indicates the neeessity for such change.

In the form of the Keilholtz apparatus illustrated: this has been accom hshed by causing the variations in air supp y pressure to react on the regulator, returnin it to each unit change of dra pres As applied this is brought about by H a chang in draft pressure to redues or increase the effect of the counterbalance, the draft is increased in regulating, tending to build up ressllre, an it when the draft 1s reduced in regulating to reduce te P The up not it is found that the increased draft through the effect of bell by reducing the counter-weight and causing this reduced as the excessive demand for ,steam continues, causes a reducat which the regulator thus reduces the boiler pressure. is so small that it is ordinarily immaterial. The known instances -in which it is of importance and which have caused the development of the apparatus of the resent invention, occur when the pat- -en regulator is a plied boilers com osing a attery, ers being ct regulated. tion of pressurehowever slight may be cient to throw the load on the unregu boilers. As this only when the excess continuous over a. rection is only desirableunder like circumstances, that 1s, when the regulator is continually operated in one phase, usually subnormal steam and increased draft phase, for a considerable period. The method of regu. lation by which this correction is introdu consists in varying the air supply pressure and causing the v mns in air supply the other boil Such reducsulfilated to one or more pressure to react upon the regulator, and further utilizing the variations in air supply. pressure correctively with a time element of retardation in opposition to said reaction on the regulator, and changin the coriective force as the reaction is pro onged.

To this end the apparatus by which the method of the present invention is practised, includes. in addition to the suluncrged bell connected to the counterbalance as shown in the patent, which tends to decrease the total of counter-weight as the draft increases and increase the total of counter-wei ht as the draft decreases, a second variab 0 element which tends to increase the total counterbalancing force when an excess draft has prevailed fora considerable period and there is a tendenc to reduce steam rcssure and to decrease t e total counter-ha ancing force when the draft has been decreased fora con siderable period, which might tend to slightly increase steam pl'cssure.-

In t 1e patent the a paratus shown, as means for carrying out t 10 atented method, includes, as already POlDlIGlFOIIt. a partially submerged bell connected to the counterbalance lever with connections to the draft' for controlling the air pressure within the bell. As the draft pressure increases, the weight of the bell, which is part of the counter-weight, decreases. To overcome this, decrease, if it tends to by a prolongation of the load and hence of the increased draft, I -have provided a liquid counter-weight supported by the counter-balance lever on the weigh side, the same being connected to a tank having,' an air space connected to the draft, the connection between the counter-weight and the tank or liquid receptacle being restricted.

As the draft n-essure. increases, liquid is expelled from t be stationary tank and added to the counter-weight. and as the draft pressure decreases, the liquid flows from the counter-weight back into the stationary tank, reducing the counter-weight.

In this way any objectionable effect of the bell tending to establish a permanent dilference in steam presure, is countered and eliminated. At the same time, the retarding effect of the small orifice connecting the liquid counter-weight to the stationary tank or reserve which is shown as inside the liquid counter-weight, permits the bell to retain the step by step act-ion whiclil-was the principal ob cct and accomplishment of tie prior patented invention.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated portions of a boiler regulator to wh features making it possible to operate the regulator in accordance with the method of my invention have been applied.

ignre 1 is an elevation showin a commercial regulator, the same inc uding a me pennanent counter-balance lever, to which is connected a .snbmcrged bell and variable counterweight operating in accordance with my invention.

F lg. 2 shows the counter-weight lever fragmentarily with the variable counterbalance and submerged bell in section.

Fig. 3 is a diagrmmnatic view of the steam plant and wgulator.

eferring to the (Ira-wing by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, the illustration includes a boiler furnace 1 and a. blower 2, delivering air under pressure beneath the grate by means of delivery pipe The blowers may be of any desired number; in the present instance there are four, each being driven flOlll a suitable source of power, for which purpose- I have illustrated an individual motor 4 in connection with each blower. Preferably there is also an automatic stoker (i, the stoker being driven from or connected to the corresponding blower, as by a belt 6.

be drawing shows a diaphragm 5 to which boiler )Iessure is communicated by a pipe 7. 1 The v. iaphragm carries an upwardly disposed knife edge or the equivalent element 8 which engages a horizontal counter, balance lcve rfi pivoted at lO. The leverf) ca gr'esthecdunter-balance 1 0 and corrective lnem era 11 incident to the present invention.

' According to the arrangement of the commercial regulator shown, the lever 9 is connected by mcansof a rod 20 including a link 21 to a pivoted horizontal lever 22 which in turn is pivotally connected to the s\\'in un,: end 23 of a bell crank lever 24 mounted on a stationary pivot 25, and the lever 22 is further connected by means of a rod 26 to a pivot valve 27 which controls the flow to and from the controller-actuating cylinder 28. The valve 27 has two connections, one

draulic controller cylinder 28 respective y. As the lever 9 swings up actuated by the, rising of the diaphragm 5 due to the increase of'boiler pressure, the rod 26 being likewise moved upward, causes the fluid, usually water under pressure, to enter the lower end of the cylinder 28, the upper end of the cylinder being exhausted through a relief pipe 30, and the piston 31 moves upward. The reverse action of the dia hragm due to decrease in boilerpressure belbw normal causes the piston to move downward. The piston 31 in the cylinder 28 carries an n rlght rod 32 to which is secured a tooth rack 33. This rack meshes with the teeth of the gear 34 on the shaft 35, carrying cams 36 which engage rollers 37 on the lever arms 38 which when electrically driven blowers are used may be connected to the switches 39. In the ordinary form of this apparatus which is well known, each of the switches 39 when closed serves to cut out a block of resistance in series with the motors so that when the switch is in, the motor speed and resulting draft and it so connected the fuel fed are leiinitely increased, and when the switch is out, the motor speed and draft, etc., dependent thereon are reduced.

In order that upon the action of the a wedge -10 is provided. This is suspenc from the piston rod and acts on the follower 11 on the depending end of the bell crank lever 24, the same being held against the wedge by a spring 41' which is compressed when the regulator ate in response to the increased boiler pressure with the rod 32 moving upward. The wedge 40 likewise moving upward engages the follower 4:1 and swings the bell crank lever righthanded about its center, moving the pivot 23 of the lever 22 downward whereby the valve 27 is closed and the motion of the piston arres until there is a furtheraction of the regulator, giving a step by step action of the regulator until the boiler pressure is formed.

his device serves to increase the draft when the boiler pressure drops below a given point of regulation and vice versa, producing a regulating action, but the lag of the furnace temperature as compared to the draft and boiler pressure is such that this regulation is not sullieiently accurate and the regulator hunts with the usual waste of fuel and loss of boiler pressni To overcome this difliculty. the invention of the prior patent cited, No. 1,160,514, has added an element by which the changes in ra t pressure are utilized correetively to stop the regulating action as, soon as a unit or predetermined change of draft pressure is established. In the form shown this is accomplished by means of a. bell jar which changes the effect of the cmmter-balance.

The arrangement of the counter-weights 10 and the submerged hell have been altered in the forms illustrated in the present application. that is, there is a single constant counter-weight proper 10 which can, of course, be varied by the addition of extra. disks pivotally connected to and suspended from the counter-weight lever 9 near the outer extremity at 12. To the bottom of this counterweight there is secured a bell or receptacle 13 open at the bottom and submerged in suitable liquid H in a tank or receptacle 15 shown as having a cover provided with an opening 16 for the passage of air and to provide for the free movement of the connecting rod 17 by which the bell and weight there may be a proper check ivdrauhc cylinder,

led

' draft pressure.

are suspended from the lever arm 9. The chamber beneath the bell 13 is connected by means of a pi e 18 to the draft pressure in the throat or delivery pipe of the blower, or draft creating element at 19.

The apparatus so far described has substantially the same operation as the apparatus described in my prior patent cited.

This invention relates to the correction of more or less permanent changes in the eliect of the counter-balance incident to long periods of excess draft due to large steam consumption which change the normal steam pressure which the regulator tends to establish. For the purpose of correcting such error, I use the automatic variable counterweight-50 which may be termed one of the corrective members This consists of a small tank or receptacle 51 carried by the counter-weight lever 9 and containing liquid 52 as hereinafter described. This recepltacle has a free opening 53 to the air whic is also utilized in the present instance for the admission of a pipe 54- connected to the This pipe extends downward into the liquid and is connected to a. small tank or inclosure 55 which as shown is .rigidly supported in the liquid by means of the pipe 54.

This tank as shown is of cross-section and preferably approximately equal to that of the bell 13, and its. interior is connected by a restricted submerged opening 56 with the water space of the tank 51.

The operation of the commercial steam pressure regmlator has been fully explained. In accprdance with my method. when the steam pressure drops below the normal, the diaphragm is depressed by the counterweights, the blowers are speeded up through the connections outlined and the increased draft pressure is communicated by the pipe 18 t0 the bell 13. This increased draft pressure drives a corresponding amount of water from the hell and either decreases the weight ,of the hell and water contained or increases its buoyancy according to the preferred expression, reducing the total downward pull on this end of the lever 9, causing immediate cessation of the increase of the draft. If the load is so excessi e that the steam pressure does not pick up, the excess draft pressure will continue or increase. efl'ecting a slight reduction of the pressure on the. diaphragm and hence of the steam pressure at which the regulator will act to reduce the pressure, so that av large increase of load tends to decrease the normal steam pressure established by the regulator. As has been pointed out, this increase is very slight and of no importance except when a number 0 boilers, some using the regulator and others not using it are connected together when there will be a tendency to throw the load ha I a nee.

in case of a large demand for steam on the unregulated boilers. To overcome this I have provided the additional corrective member in the form of an automatically variahle counter-balance operating with a retarded effect, as the variation takes place to an appreciable extent only when there is a prolonged change of conditions as a considerable and prolonged increase or decrease of load. Under such circumstances the change in pressure over the liquid. 2'. 6., in the gas or air space of the tank 55 causes an inflow or expulsion of liquid to, or from the tank 55 through the restricted opening 56, making a corresponding change of the counterbalance as a change of the mass of counter-weight which will counter and eliminate the effect of the hell jar 13 due to a permanent considerable change of conditions or load iesnlting in change of normal steam pressure. At the saule time, owing to the n-tardation of the automatic counterthe hell 13 remains. sensitive to draft changes and itself acts cormctively to eliminate racing of boiler conditions due to the defective action of the commercial regulator as already described in the prior patent.

More particularly, the counter-balance is acted upon by opposed forces, one of which is a function of the steam pressure applied at s, the other is a constant but adjustable force due to the weight 10. To prevent raciuc' due to the defective operation of the regulator. the variations in air pressure have been caused to react on the counter-balance h means 11f the bell 13. However, such a rraclion. if prolonged, as in the instances already portrayed, might cause. an undesirable change of the normal steam pressure, 2'. ea, th pressure to which the regulator acts or tends to return the system. To avoid this, the inventor applies to the counter-balance in opposition to the reaction. a compensating form: also determined by the variations ofair supply pressure. This corrective force acts in vpposition to each reaction, but it is subject. m a time elemcntin mtardation. In other words, the corrective force is built u as thereaction is prolonged and has a ten ency to neutralize the reaction or reduce the sum of the moments in the counterbalance set up by variations of the air su ply pressure to zero within a predetermined period after each regulating impulse and reaction.

I- have thus described the method of my invention and an apparatus by means of which it may be practised specifically and in detail in order that its application to the art may be clear. However, the details of the a paratus are more essential, and the speci 0 terms describing it are used descriptively rather than in their limiting sense,

the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

1. A method of operating an apparatus including asteam boiler, a furnace and a regulator to control the boiler pressure, which consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying quantities, causing the var1- ations in air supply to react upon the regulator to check the regulating action at intervals determined by the said variations of air supply, of air supply in opposition to said reactions to reduce the effect of each reaction as the period of the reaction progresses.

2. A method of operating an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace and a regulator to control the boiler pressure, which consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying quantities, causing the variations in air su ply to react upon the regulator to check t 1e regulating action at intervals determined by the sand variations of air', supply, and further utilizing the variations of air supply to reduce the period of maximum reaction.

3. A method of operating an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace and a iegulator to control the boiler pressure, which consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying quantities, causing the variations in air supply to react upon the regulator to check the regulating action at intervals determinedby the said variations of air supply, and further utilizing the variations of air supply pressure in opposition to said reactions to cut short the period of maximum reaction and prevent c ange of normal steam pressure due to said reaction.

4. A method of operating an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace and a regulator to control the boiler pressure, which consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying quantities, causing the variations in air supply to react upon the regulator to check the regulating action at intervals determined by the sand variations of air supply, and further utilizing the variations of air supply correctively in op osition to sai reactions, the corrective orce being increased as the period of regulation of a singlephase progresses.

5. A method of operating an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace and a regulator to control the boiler ressure which consists in supplying air an fuel to the furnace at varying pressures in response to variations in steam pressure in the boiler, causing the variation in air supply pressure to react upon the regulator, determining the quantities of air supplied and in instances where there is a prolonged variation of draft pressure of a single phase utilizing said variations of draft pressure with a time element to neutralize the efl'ect of said correspondand further utilizing the variations ing reactions to prevent change of normal steam pressure due to the reaction.

6. A method of operating an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace and a regulator to control the boiler ressure which consists in supplying air an fuel to the furnace at varying pressures in response to variations in steam pressure in the boiler, causing the variation in air supply pressure to react upon the regulator, determining the quantities of air supplied and in instances where there is a prolonged variation of draft pressure of a single phase utilizing said variation of draft pressure to gradually neutralize the reaction and shorten the period of said corresponding reaction to prevent change of normal steam pressure due to the reaction.

7 L A method of regulating the generation and ressure of steam in a steam plant, includlng a furnace, a boiler and a pressure regulator by varying the generation of heat in the furnace which consists in supplying to the furnace air under pressure in excess of that of the atmosphere, varying the supply pressureto compensate for variations of steam pressure, utilizing these same variations in air supply pressure to prevent hunting by causing them to react on the air supplying means, and in instances where there is a prolonged variation of air pressure of a single phase, utilizing said air pressure in opposition to said reaction to shorten the period of said reaction and to prevent change of normal steam pressure.

8. A method of compensating a steam ressure regulator, whic regulator 0 rates y varying the air supply pressure an causing the variations in the air supply to react upon the regulator, said compensating method consisting in further utilizing the variations in air supply pressure correctively in opposition to said reactions on the regulator, and changing the corrective force as the reaction is prolonged.

9. Amethod of compensating a steam pressure regulator, which regulator operates by varying the air supply pressure and cansing the variations in the air supply to react upon the regulator, said com ensating method consisting in further utilizing the variations in air supply to generate a corrective force in opposition to said reactions, the corrective force being gradually changed until it neutralizes the reaction or the phase of regulation is chan d. a

10. A method of regulating the generation and pressure of steam in the operation of an apparatus includin a steam boiler, a furnace and a regulator, aving a counterbalance acted upon by steam pressure and an opposed constant force determiningthe normal steam pressure, which method consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying quantities determined by the regulator and causing the variations in air supply to react upon the counter-balance in opposition to each regulating impulse to control the regulatin action, and further utilizing correctively tile said variations in air supply pressure, tending to reduce to zero after each regulating impulse the sum of the moments of the forces applied to the counter-balance by said variations of air supply measure.

11. A method of regulating the generation and pressure of steam in the operation of an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace, and a regulator having a counterbalance acted upon by the steam pressure and an opposed constant force, which method consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying quantities determined by the regulator and causing the "ariations in air supply to react upon the counter-balance in opposition to each regulating impulse to control the regulating action. and

urther utilizing the said variations in air supply pressure correctively, tending to balance after each regulating impulse the moments of the forces applied to the counterbalance by said variations of air supply, said corrective action being subject to a time element which causes it to lag behind the reaction, and increase and approach the force of the reaction as the phase of regulation and hence the reaction are prolonged.

12. A method of regulating the generation and pressure of steam in the operation of an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace and a regulator. having a counterbalance acted upon by the steam pressure and an opposed force determining the normal steam pressure, which method consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying allantities fixed by the regulator, causing e variations in air supply to react upon the counter-balance to control the regulating action, and utilizing the same variations in air supply pressure correctivcly but subject to a lag tending to neutralize the reactions.

13. A method of regulating the generation and pressure of steam in the operation of an apparatus including a steam boiler, a furnace and a regulator, having a counterbalance acted upon by the steam pressure and an opposed force determining the normal steam pressure, which method consists in supplying air to the furnace in varying quantities fixed by the regulator, causing the variations in air supply to react upon the counter-balance to control the regulating action, and utilizing the same variatipns in air supply pressure correctively, tending to neutralize the reactions, the corrective action being subject to a predetermined lag relatively to the reactions.

14. A method of operating a steam pressure regulator in connection with a boiler and furnace which acts by varying the air supply pressure to overcome variation of steam pressure, the method consisting in causing the variations in air supply to react on the regulator against each regulating impulse and compensating said reactions by an opposed force resulting from the same variations of air supply pressure subject 10 to a time element of retardation.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this 14th day of March, 1919.

PIERRE O. KEILHOLTZ.

Witnesses:

EDWIN F. SAMUELS, EMMA WEHMEYEB. 

